The Southwestern Veterans’ Center has confirmed it’s had low levels of Legionella bacteria in its water.
Channel 11 learned there are still precautions being taken there with patients and staff drinking bottled water, while retesting is going on after low levels of Legionella were found there.
11 Investigates uncovered Tuesday that a patient at the Southwestern Veterans’ Center tested positive for Legionnaires’ Disease on June 8 and was admitted to the VA Hospital in Oakland for treatment….
“In order to get Legionnaires’ Disease, you have to be exposed to the bacteria from the water, it has to get into your lungs and the lungs of the individual have to be susceptible to an infection,” said Dr. Janet Stout, an expert in Legionnaires’ Disease at Special Pathogens Laboratory in Pittsburgh. Stout told Channel 11 a long-term disinfection plan is as important as an aggressive cleaning when the bacteria is first discovered.
“Those single knock downs, Legionella comes right back up, so it grows again even though you’ve controlled it initially,” Stout said.
(Excerpt from WPXI)